Zinchenko injury a blow for Manchester City – but no guarantees for Mendy

Published

4 April 2019

Pep Guardiola has warned Benjamin Mendy there are no guarantees of a place in the Manchester City side for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Brighton.

Quadruple-chasing City will need to make a change at left-back for Saturday’s clash at Wembley after Oleksandr Zinchenko limped off during Wednesday’s 2-0 Premier League victory over relegation-threatened Cardiff.

The result took City back to the top of the table, a point above title rivals Liverpool with six games remaining.

Zinchenko, who has established himself as first-choice left-back in the absences of Mendy and Fabian Delph this season, lasted just 19 minutes before succumbing to a hamstring injury.

Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko walks off following an injury at the Etihad Stadium (Martin Rickett/PA)

Danilo switched from right-back to cover but Guardiola admits the Brazilian is not a natural in the position.

That raises the possibility of a recall for £49.1million man Mendy, who is now fully recovered from the knee injury that has kept him out for most of the last five months but appears out of favour.

The 24-year-old was the subject of disciplinary action earlier this season when he reported late for treatment after attending a high-profile boxing event the previous evening.

Further questions of Mendy’s status were asked this week after the Frenchman was spotted in a nightclub in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Guardiola said: “Zinchenko gave us a lot and he is an important player for us. He knows the mechanisms, he knows the way we want to play.

“But during the season this kind of thing happens if you play a lot of minutes. You accept it and we are going to find a solution. I don’t know right now which one because Danilo fought a lot to play in that position. I appreciate that a lot.

“It’s not his natural position but he fought a lot. We’ll see the decision we will take for the FA Cup semi-final.”

PEP 💬 (On Zinchenko) He is important for us.

He knows the way we want to play but it is what it is.

Danilo fought a lot in that position but it is not his natural one. We will find a solution.